Improvement in machines for making clay retorts



w. n. GLIFF. y Machines for Making C|ay-Retorts- N 0.155,09`. Patented Sept.15,1874.

THE GRAPHIC C0. FHOTO'LITHVQSS 4| PARK PLACE, N.Y.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. CLIFF, OF WORTLEY, NEAR LEEDS, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR MAKING CLAY RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,069, dated September 15, 1874; application filed August 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM DEwHiRsT ULIFF, of Vortley, near Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented certain Improvements in Machinery for Making Clay ltetorts and other similar heavy articles made from clay, of which the following is a specification:

Hitherto it has been found impracticable to employ machinery in the manufacture of clay retorts and other similar heavy articles made of clay on account of their great weight; but by the aid of my present invention I am enabled to manufacture `such articles with comparative ease.

The arrangement of machinery l propose to employ is vertical. At theupper part, carried on a suitable frame or standard, is a steam-cylinder, to the piston-rod of which is ixed another piston, which actsin combination with the clay-cylinder xed below the steamcylinder. To the lower end of the claycylinder is iixed the die or mold, the form of which is varied according to the form and dimensions of retort or other article required. As the retort issues from the die or mold it is received onto a loose board carried by a carriage provided with wheels, so that when the retort is completely formed the carriage with it may be run on' a road or platform to any desired place. When the retort commences to issue from the die or mold, and until it is completely formed, this carriage is supported by a table connected to the upper ends of slide-rods,which work through and are guided by suitable guides. These slide-rods are also connected together at their lower ends by a cross beam or bar, to the center of which is attached a chain, which passes up over a suitable pulley to a balance-weight. Additional or compensating weights, supported at inter- Vals on suitable brackets, are caught up by the first-mentioned weight as it ascends, and as the increasing weight of the retort in its descent requires them. These weights can be varied at pleasure, according to the weight of the article being made. These additional or compensating weights are guided by suitable guide-rods. A brake-wheel is xed on the same shaftas that of the before-mentioned pulley to hold the machine in its position when the retort or other article is fully formed, and to regulate the ascent of the table up to the die or mold. The brake-wheel has acting in connection with it a friction-strap, which is connectedv to a lever operated, preferably, by a screw, and to this lever is pin-jointed a catch-lever, which is employed to press down the table when the article is completely formed, so as to relieve the carriage, and thus allow of its being moved away; or, if desired, another simple lever may be employed for this purpose.

And, in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into eii'ect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully to describe the same.

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, ofl machinery arranged according to my invention for making retorts and other similar heavy articles made from clay. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. l with the steam and clay cylinders removed. Fig. 3 is a plan of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the uppermosty additional or compensating weight; and Fig. 5 is an elevation, showing the balance-weight with the additional or compensating weights collected together as they would appear when at their highest position.

a is a steam-cy1inder, which is supported as shown in the drawings, or in any other suitable manner. b is the piston-rod from the piston in the steam-cylinder a, and b are extra guide-rods, also y from the said piston. These rods b b are connected to a piston, c, which tits and is capable of working in the clay-cylinder d, to the lower end of which is fixed the die or mold d', the form of which is varied according to the form and dimensions of retort or other article required to be produced by the machine. As the retort or other article issues from the die or mold d it is received onto a loose board, e, carried by a carriage, f, provided with wheels f', so that when the retort or other article is completely formed the carriage f with it may be run on a road or platform, g, to any desired place.

When the retort or other article commences to issue from the die or mold d', and until it is completely formed, this carriage f is supported by a table, 7L, connected to the upper ends of slide-rods t', which work through andare guided by cross-beams or guides j, secured to the side frames or vertical timbers 7c. These slide-rods i are also connected together, at their lower ends, by a cross beam or bar, l, to the center of which is attached a chain, m, which passes up over a suitable pulley, u, and thence down to abalance-,weight, 0. Addition al or compensating weights p, supported at intervals on suitable brackets q, and guided in their motions by guide-rods r, are caught up by the balance-weight o as it ascends, and as the increasing weight of the retort or other article in its descent as it issues from the die or mold d requires them. These additional or compensating weights p can be varied at pleasure, according to the weight of the article being made, for which purpose they are each provided with three slots or openings, pp'z p2, the slots or openings p1 being those in which the chain m works, while the slots or openings p2 are those which fit the guide-rods r. A brakewheel, s, is ixed on the saine shaft or axis as that of the pulley n, to hold the machine in its position when the retort or other article has fully issued from the clay-cylinder d, and to regulate the ascent of the table h up to the die or mold d. The brake-wheel s has acting in connection with it a friction-strap, sf, which is connected to a lever, t, operated preferably by a screw, u, as shown; and to this lever is pinjointed a catch-lever7 t, which is employed to press down the table h, when the retort or other article is completely formed, lso as to relieve the carriage f, and thus allow of its being moved away; or, if desired, another simple lever may be employed for this purpose.

The operation ofthe apparatus is as follows: The clay-cylinder d being filled with clay, the piston in the steam-cylinder a is forced down, carrying with it the clay-piston c, thereby forcing the clay through the die or mold d. As the clay, in the form of retort or other article, descends, it gradually forces down the table 7L, and, consequently, raises the balance-weight o. When this weight o reaches the lowest of the additional or supplemental weights p, it takes it up, thereby adding its weight as counterbalance for the increased load ofthe descending retort or other article, and soon until all the weights p are taken up, and the retort or other article has fully issued from the die or mold d.

The Weights o p are so arranged that, when the retort or other article is forced out to nearly the required length, the retort or other article is rather heavier than the compensating-weights 5 the brake is then slightly applied to check the downward momentum of the retort or other article until it reaches its proper length, when the brake is tightened. The retort or other article is then cut off, after which the brake is slackened so as to allow the carriage f with retort or other article upon it, to descend until the wheels f rest upon the road yor platform g, when, upon the table h being `then slackened, and catch-lever t' removed from the table h, so as to allow of the gradual ascent vof the table h, with the carriage f, up to the die or mold d', when the operation is repeated as before.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention, and the mode in which I carry the ysame into effect, I would h ere remark that I vam aware that a steam-cylinder, a, and claycylinder el, arranged and operated as above described, have before been employed in the manufacture of various articles in clay. I do not` therefore, claim such parts; but

What I do cla-im in the manufacture of revtorts, and other similar heavy articles made from clay, is-

l. The chain m, pulley n, weight o, and supplemental compensating-weights p p, in combination with the elevator h i and brackets q.

2. The carriage f for receiving the molded articles, in combination with the table h, elevating-rods t', and track g, substantially as set forth.

WM. D. CLIFF.

Witnesses:

FRED. HARRIS, B. J. B. MILLS, Both 0]'23 Southampton Buildings, London.. 

